The female, later identified as Collette Marquand, age 33, of 1293 Downing Court, was holding her one-month old daughter, Megann Knotts. Due to the smoke and heat from the fire, Marquand dropped the infant from the second floor window into the waiting arms of Officer Hesse.
Waterloo Fire Rescue arrived on scene and placed a ladder to the second floor window and rescued Marquand and the other child who was identified as Marquand’s six-year-old son, Tyler Barthelmes. During this rescue, additional Fire Rescue personnel extinguished the fire on the first floor.
Waterloo Fire Rescue Paramedics transported Marquand and her children to Allen Memorial Hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released.
Waterloo Fire Rescue determined that the fire started in the apartment’s first floor living room area and that Marquand’s six-year-old son, whom was playing with a cigarette lighter, started the fire.
Captain John Beckman
Waterloo Police Department
319-291-4383